William hall



' w. HALL.

Lightning Rod.

No. 77,729. Patentd May 12, 1868.

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WILLIAM HALLQ'OE' DUBU U-E, IOWA.

Letters Patent N 77,729, dated llfay 12, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-RODS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HALL, of the city of Dubuque, in the county of Dubudue, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lightning-Rods, which Icall William Hall's Continuous-Cylindrical Lightning-Itch and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a portion of the rod, and

Figure Zrepresents an end view of the same.

This invention consists of a continuous cylinder, and is eonstructedin the following manner: -I take a strip of sheet copper, any length required'for a lightning-rod, and by means of adequate machinery-I form it into a cylinder or tube, allowing the sheet to be rolled once, twice, or more times around, giving as great capacity for conducting electricity as I choose. Theeylinder, single or double, maybe formed over-an iron wircornot, and may be either soldered or not, at discretion.

The advantages I claim for this invention are:

First. Perfect continuity.

Second. Perfect uniformity, causing an equal distribution of the free electricity over the entire surface of the conductor, and offering no obstructiondn its transmission; and

' Third. Great strength and durability.

I am aware that there has been constructed a tube from a continuous strip of copper, to be used as a lightning-rod, and I do not claim to have invented a simple tube, nor have I set up any claim to said invention. My invention consists in so constructing a cylinder, of a'eontinuous strip of sheet metal, that the sheet shall extend several times around the axis in forming the cylinder, leaving the edges unsoldered or open.

The advantages of this mode of constructing a lightning-rod are manifold.

First. It gives any desired amount of conducting-surface required in a very eompaet'form.

Second. It maintains a perfectly cylindrical form, no matter to what extent the sheet is rolled.

Third. By this means a much greater strength is obtained, and hence greater. durability.

Fourth. The machinery by which this red is made is of my own invention, and .I believe it was never invented nor used by any one, and is peculiarly and only adapted to the constructioniof this convoluted cylinder, and it is my intention to apply for a patent for said machine'as soon as I shallbring it as near perfection as desirable.-

Having thus stated what I do not claim, and the nature of my invention, with some of its advantages,

What I claim as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, as an article of manufacture and use, isg A continuous convoluted cylinder, constructed of sheet metal,-wherein the sheet of which it is-eomposed shall extend more than once around the axis in forming the cylinder, whether the same shall be constru'cte d over an iron wire-0r not, when the same is made substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

WILLIAM HALL. Witnesses:

Jenn S. HoLLINesnnrD,

Jenn D. BLOOR. 

